Reflections on TruthBeispiel

As a boy growing up in Aotearoa New Zealand, I remember one time when I was sick and stuck at home. At the end of an agonizingly long week in bed, my dad came home excitedly bearing a beautifully wrapped gift to cheer me up. With eager anticipation, he watched as I unwrapped a brand new recently released New English Bible.

I treasure that memory and think of it regularly.

It is the snapshot in my mind of my father’s delight. It is the recollection of carefully turning fresh crisp pages of Scripture. It is the memory of discovering the power of God’s Word anew through a contemporary translation.

The Apostle Paul gifted the recipients of his letters with memories that were always encouraging and other times confronting. First Thessalonians 1 and 2 is one such example. Paul reminds the church of when he proclaimed God’s Word, of when they received God’s Word, and praised God for the transforming truth of God’s Word in their lives.

Over three consecutive Sabbaths, Paul, and Silas had proclaimed the good news of Jesus to the people of Thessalonica. He reminded the church how Silas and he had explained and proved that Jesus, the Messiah, had to suffer, be crucified, and rise from the dead. They had opened up familiar Scriptures with a renewed understanding by pointing to the reality of who Jesus is, and what he had done.

Though there were many who rejected God’s Word and persecuted Paul and Silas, Paul focuses on highlighting that those of this Grecian city that readily received Paul’s gospel proclamation, reflected the transforming power of God’s Word for all levels of people. Some of those who joined Paul and Silas were not Jews. They were locals of Greek origins. Both women and men were converted and welcomed. People from the ordinary walks of life to those of the aristocracy joined the burgeoning Christian movement.

Paul’s reminder to the Thessalonians is also a memory jog for us today. The Word of God is at work in us who believe. May we regularly receive the proclamation of God’s Word as it is preached and practiced. Knowing that we may suffer for our faith. Yet, through remembering that God is faithful, and His Word is everlasting, by Spirit He is continuing to do a good work in each one of us today.